Essay 1: Given your
individual background, why are you pursuing a Columbia MBA at this time?
(Maximum 500 words)
This one is fairly straightforward. A good, structured way to approach this
essay:
- Briefly discuss your professional and academic background until now
- Address short-term and long-term goals
- Discuss why an MBA now
- Address why Columbia – include specifics of professors, clubs, etc.
The best essay responses to this question will cover each of
these aspects at a minimum, along with other personal attributes that are
relevant to your MBA.
Essay 2: Columbia
Business School is located in the heart of the world's business capital -
Manhattan. How do you anticipate that New York City will impact your experience
at Columbia? (Maximum 250 words)
There are many mundane ways to answer this question – heart
of the financial (retail / marketing / etc.) world, opportunities to network
with varied companies and industries, etc.
An interesting response to this question will tailor your
own background to specific offerings that are truly unique to NYC – e.g., let’s
say you are interested in Microfinance.
Can you identify two – three organizations based in NYC that are doing
groundbreaking work in this specific area?
Can you perhaps identify some Columbia alums that work there? Can you come up with creative ways to
participate and contribute to those specific ventures – e.g., do an unpaid
internship during your first year with one of the firms?
The most creative answers to this question will certainly win
extra brownie points with AdCom because most responses to this question sound
almost the exact same.
Essay 3: What will
the people in your Cluster be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (Maximum
250 words)
Again, it’s important to be creative with this essay and
avoid the usual responses. While it is
very tempting to use this essay to showcase one of your grand accomplishments,
the end result of such essays don’t really distinguish you very well from many
other candidates.
Some very typical (and boring) responses to this essay:
- Speaking 3 – 6 languages – If you come from a trilingual home or a culture where this is the norm (e.g., Indian languages), this is not ‘pleasantly surprising’ anymore, not to AdCom anyway.
- “Normal” athletic accomplishments – while running a marathon is certainly laudable, there are TONS of MBA candidates who have done this in the past (sorry to burst your bubble)
- Travel to x countries – Unless this is really an outstanding number of places for a unique reason, avoid mentioning this, simply because there are many others who have done the same
Instead, reflect on your life – what is something about you
that would truly make another classmate smile?
What would make you smile about
something that a classmate did? Did you
marry your childhood sweetheart? Did you
once fervently believe in a cause that was very dear to you? Role play a conversation with your classmates
and share a story that would indeed make them pleasantly surprised about your
past.
To get your CBS essay reviewed by a Columbia alum, or to speak to a Columbia alum with your admissions questions, write to us at essaycritique@gmail.com
